Breadcrumb

1. Home

2. Print 

3. Pdf 

4. Node 

5. Entity Print 

Operational Activities: Invasive

Species

Last Modified: 

Print

Nonnative species that cause harm are collectively known as invasive species.

Human activity such as trade, travel and tourism have all increased substantially,

increasing the speed and volume of species movement to unprecedented levels.

Invasive species are often unintended hitchhikers on cargo and vehicles. Still more

species are deliberately introduced as pets, ornamental plants, crops, food, or for

recreation, pest control or other purposes.

Most nonnative species, including most of our sources of food and fiber, are not

harmful; and many are highly beneficial. A small percentage of nonnative species

cause great harm to the environment, the economy or human health. Invasive

species may prey upon, displace or otherwise harm native species. Some invasive

species also alter ecosystem processes, transport disease, interfere with crop

production, or cause illnesses in animals and humans; affecting both aquatic and

terrestrial habitats. For these reasons, invasive species are of national and global

concern.

National Invasive Species Council
In 1999, Executive Order (EO) 13112 established the National Invasive Species

Council (NISC), co-chaired by the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and

Commerce. NISC members include the Secretaries of Transportation, State, Defense,

Homeland Security, Treasury, and Health and Human Services; the Administrators of

the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration; as well as the Director of the U.S. Agency for International

Development and the U.S. Trade Representative. NISC was charged with providing

coordination, planning and overall leadership for federal invasive species programs

and reaching out to state, tribal, local and private partners. EO 13112 seeks to

prevent the introduction of invasive species and provide for their control and to

minimize the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species

cause. It identifies federal agency duties, establishes the NISC and the Invasive

Species Advisory Committee and their duties, and provides for the development of

the National Invasive Species Management Plan.

Wildlife Services' Invasive Species Work

Wildlife Services conducts invasive species activities in partnership with other

federal and state agencies and others, to protect a wide variety of resources.

Brown Tree Snake

European Starling

Feral Swine

Nutria

In addition to the four species highlighted, WS provides assistance to the general

public upon request to resolve damage caused by invasive species. Last Fiscal Year,

WS provided direct control assistance to resolve damage caused by 14 of the 23

bird, mammal, and reptile species identified by the World Conservation Union (IUCN)

as being among the top 100 invasive species in the world. These species included

brown tree snakes, giant toad, Coqui frog, red-vented bulbul, common myna,

European starling, nutria, house mouse, roof rat, small Asian mongoose, feral swine,

cats and goats.

Visit the National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC)  for more information.